If you search the Internet for work from home jobs, you will be inundated with a long list of opportunities. Many of these postings promise huge pay for little work. However, it is important to keep in mind the fact that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Today's consumers are dealing with challenging economic conditions. Because of this, many people are searching for legitimate ways to make extra money in their spare time. There are plenty of scams out there, but that does not mean that there is no way to make money from home.

Read on to discover two innovative ways to increase your income without leaving your couch.

Consulting and Freelance Work

One of the easiest ways to make money from home is by leveraging your current skills. There are many professions that offer the ability to work from home. Even if your employer will not allow you to work from home during the regular workday, you can offer to complete additional projects or work on a contract basis after hours.

In addition to asking your current employer for additional paid work, you can also branch out and find freelance work. Writing, graphic design, composing, tutoring and more can all be done online. When you are first starting out, let everyone that you come into contact with know that you are seeking freelance jobs. You can talk to your neighbors, post on your Facebook account and send an e-mail out to all of your contacts.

One word of caution--be sure that contract or freelance work is not prohibited by your current job's contract. You should also steer clear of any projects that could be considered a conflict of interest.

Forex Trading

Online trading has greatly increased in popularity over the last 10 years. Trading is no longer just for those with college degrees in finance or financial professionals. With the right information, anyone can become a successful trader.

Forex trading is not just popular in the United States. Since Forex trades world currencies against each other, traders are participating from all around the globe. Currently, the Arabic market is strong, so more Arabic traders are discovering the benefits of Forex trading.

Becoming a successful trader does not have to be difficult, but you also do not want to just jump in and start trading. Making trades before you understand how the market works can result in losing money instead of making it.

The first step to starting Forex trading is finding the right broker. There are hundreds of brokers online that offer Forex trading platforms, but you need to find the one that will meet your needs.

There are many different factors to consider when choosing a broker. You should take into account the broker's quality ratings, certifications and associations and tools for traders. Some of the most popular, high quality brokers include:NetoTrade, Oanda, CitiFX Pro and FXCM.

Once you open your account, take some time to study the basics of trading, and start with small trades before working up to larger ones.